Camping HELP...

952 Views | 7 Replies | Last: 15 yr ago by ursusguy
Rebel96
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AG
A group of friends and I are wanting to go camping, but none of us have been camping in a LONG while. We are looking at going to a few state parks throughout the rest of the year to get some much needed experience before we take the show on the road to places like Big Bend and other places out of state (Yosemite, Arkansas, Colorado, etc).

We'll likely try a few campsites close to our car or within a short hike to the campsite from a trail head. Since we've been out of the camping loop for quite awhile I was hoping to get some good tips on what we need (clothes, equipment, etc.) to camp. Even if we are close to our vehicle I was wanting to pack like we're going on a short hike to camp. That said any help on what we need to pack/ bring even if it's obvious would be much help. (Tent, sleeping bag, backpack, etc......) Thanks.
ColoradoMooseHerd
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If you are going to backpack, think lite.

You want to get gear that is as light as you can afford, especially tent and sleeping bag.

Do not overpack

Pro Sandy
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AG
Here is a list that I had on my computer that I made for a presentation once.

Backpacking Equipment List

Personal Gear (adjust as needed for location and weather)

Pack
Backpack (Internal: capacity > 4800 cubic inches; External capacity > 4000 cubic inches)
Pack Cover
Zip Lock Bags

Sleeping
Sleeping Bag with stuff sack
Ground Pad, (light weight and non-bulky)
1 T-shirt
1 Pair of shorts

Clothes

Hiking
1 Pair of hiking Boots (well broken in)
2 Pairs of Hiking Socks
3 Pairs of Liners
3 Pairs of underwear
2 Hiking shirts
2 Hiking shorts
1 Pair of camp shoes (Light weight; sneakers or sandals)
1 Pair of cotton socks
1 Hat

Evenings
1 Long Sleeve Shirt
1 Pair of pants
1 Pair of Long Johns

Cold Weather (may need more depending on weather)
1 Fleece
1 Stocking cap
1 Pair of gloves

Wet Weather
1 Rain suit (top and bottom)

Eating
3-4 Water Bottles
Water Purification
Cup
Spoon

Personal
Tooth Brush
Tooth Paste
Soap, (biodegradable)
Sun Screen
Chap stick
Finger nail clippers
Toilet Paper
Bandana
Sun Glasses
Knife
Flashlight
Compass and Map
Bible

Optional
Pen and notepad
Camera and Film

Crew Gear (adjust as needed for crew size)

Cooking
Stove and fuel (estimate fuel using 2 oz per person per meal)
Lighter and matches
Pots
1 Large spoon
Soap (biodegradable)
Scour pad

Food
Food

Camp Gear
Tents, stakes, and ground cloths
50 ft of Nylon cord
First Aid Kit
Rebel96
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AG
Great!!! Thanks, that's just what I was looking for. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated!
ccard257
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AG
I think i've seen that list before

That's a great list to start from. A couple of my personal comments on it:

I personally think that list goes way overboard on clothing. you probably don't need sleep clothes unless you are in grizzly country or can't eat without spilling stuff all over yourself.

That is also alot of warm clothes. You don't necessarily need to pack to be comfortable at the low temp. of the day. You should be sleeping in your warm bag at that point. For June in the mountains I usually take 1 long john top, 1 fleece, and rain gear. that plus a warm hat and gloves keeps me warm enough 98% of the time. If I get cold, I just go to bed. Later in the summer I usually ditch the fleece for a down or fleece vest or no middle layer depending on my location/elevation. YMMV, warmth is a personal thing.

If you are going with a group you can also leave most of the chapstick/toothpaste/etc. behind and mooch off of the rest of your group (just make sure they weren't planning to do the same)


other general tips:
water is heavy. be sure you have enough but if you are near a stream all day, you don't need to cary a days worth of water. Some people like to fill up at the beginning of the day and never stop. I prefer to carry less and stop to fill up more frequently.

a pound on your feet is five on your back. Don't over-do it on footwear. Be sure you have the ankle support etc. that you personnally need, but don't go get mountaineering boots for a texas hike either.

GPS units are great tools for off trail hiking or charting your numbers if thats something that interests you. They are not, however a substitute for a map, compass, and knowing how to use them.

most things in backpacking are personal preferance. we can all give our opinions, but try as many different things as you can and find out what works best for you.

To reiterate, sandy's list is great. Start with that and add/delete things as you gain experience.

sandy - that fuel/pp/pm rule, do you know if it applies to canister stoves? Thanks.
ccard257
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AG
oh yeah, bug spray!
Pro Sandy
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AG
looking over the list, i would agree that it is clothes heavy. that list is based on the packing list for Philmont.

Clothes when I go, I usually wear cargo pants and a long sleeve shirt, even in the summer, but I am odd. Then I take at least 1 extra pair of skivvies, maybe more depending on how long I am going to be out. Not more than 2 extra because you can wash your clothes, so you wear one, wash one, and have a dry one. I almost always take a fleece and in the winter or in the mountains I take my beenie and gloves. I've seen a nice hot summer day turn into a cold summer evening when a storm hits and socks just do not keep my hands warm. So I don't think it is too much warm clothes, though long johns are certainly not something everyone needs.

Socks, I do not use liners, just wear cotton socks. Entirely up to the individual.

Sleep clothes is just as ccard said. We had to use them at Philmont because of ursusguy.

As ccard said, a lot of it is personal preference. If you have a means of staying dry and warm, you will be fine.

If you look in my pack when I head out, it is typically full of books. I love to read on the trail!

As far as stoves, I think the fuel rule is a good guide for canister stoves as well. I haven't used one since I was a kid (I use a WhisperLite) but I compared the pocketrocket and the whisperlite. Both have similar boil times. The PocketRocket will give you 150 min on 20 oz, the WhisperLite will give you 136 min.

And then a personal little sidenote for me. I wear cotton and I love it. Cotton doesn't kill like everyone says. Hypothermia can kill. Burns from a stove can kill. Falling off a cliff because you were trying to look cool in your new North Face polyester shirt can kill. They say cotton kills because it doesn't dry as fast as synthetics when it is wet and doesn't stay warm like wool when wet. But you know what I do when the possibility of rain occurs? I put on my rain jacket. You know what I do when I get wet in a stream and start to get cold? I put on dry clothes. Now earlier I mentioned burns from a stove. Let's say you get into camp at 7PM, starting to get dark and you are starved. You fire up your stove, get your trail meal #11 out, put your pot on the stove and turn to look for your water bottle. There it is, on the other side of the stove. You reach across and in your tired state, you accidentally hit the pot. You instinctively reach out to stabilize it and you catch on fire. Oh my! You arm is on fire! And now that polyblend shirt that looked oh so cool hanging on the rack at REI is now melted to your arm! You are so uncool now. Cotton doesn't melt like polyester when it burns.

And now for everyones enjoyment, a pic of Pro Sandy on Echo Peak in his awesome cargo pants, button up green shirt, and cool yellow fleece!



[This message has been edited by Pro Sandy (edited 5/28/2009 8:14a).]
ccard257
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AG
thanks for the info on canister stoves. I use my 10 year wisperlite but have thought about getting a small canister stove for short solo/two person trips.

quote:
Let's say you get into camp at 7PM, starting to get dark and you are starved. You fire up your stove, get your trail meal #11 out, put your pot on the stove and turn to look for your water bottle. There it is, on the other side of the stove. You reach across and in your tired state, you accidentally hit the pot. You instinctively reach out to stabilize it and you catch on fire. Oh my! You arm is on fire! And now that polyblend shirt that looked oh so cool hanging on the rack at REI is now melted to your arm! You are so uncool now.


lmao IWGBTP
ursusguy
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AG
ccard257, I understand your comment on the sleepting clothing, but I can assure you I like seperate sets. One of the attacks in 2000 was directly related to wearing the day clothes to bed, and was considered a major contributing factor for the 2002 Old Camp attack---Trust me, I know this part really well
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